Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Cooltong were Australian, English and Greek.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cooltong - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cooltong in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Renmark Paringa (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cooltong, with comparison markers for Renmark Paringa (DC).
Australian
2021 count
126
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
126
39.1%
+5.2pp
English
2021 count
112
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
112
34.8%
+1.8pp
Greek
2021 count
38
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
38
11.8%
-3.8pp
German
2021 count
32
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
32
9.9%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
26
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
26
8.1%
+4.8pp
Irish
2021 count
21
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
21
6.5%
+2.0pp
Indian
2021 count
16
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
16
5.0%
-3.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
11
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
11
3.4%
+1.0pp
Malay
2021 count
11
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-
11
3.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+13
+5.2pp
English
+2
+1.8pp
Greek
-14
-3.8pp
German
+1
+0.6pp
Italian
+15
+4.8pp
Irish
+6
+2.0pp
Indian
-12
-3.4pp
Scottish
+3
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cooltong. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Renmark Paringa (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Renmark Paringa (DC)% | Count | % | Renmark Paringa (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 126 | 39.1% | 38.2% | 113 | 33.9% | 38.4% | +13 | +5.2pp |
| English | 112 | 34.8% | 36.5% | 110 | 33.0% | 35.2% | +2 | +1.8pp |
| Greek | 38 | 11.8% | 4.6% | 52 | 15.6% | 5.1% | -14 | -3.8pp |
| German | 32 | 9.9% | 12.0% | 31 | 9.3% | 12.8% | +1 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 26 | 8.1% | 3.5% | 11 | 3.3% | 3.5% | +15 | +4.8pp |
| Irish | 21 | 6.5% | 5.5% | 15 | 4.5% | 5.5% | +6 | +2.0pp |
| Indian | 16 | 5.0% | 2.0% | 28 | 8.4% | 2.1% | -12 | -3.4pp |
| Scottish | 11 | 3.4% | 6.3% | 8 | 2.4% | 6.5% | +3 | +1.0pp |
| Malay | 11 | 3.4% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).